TV.com

Scandal Season 1 Episode 6

The Trail

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 5

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

AIRED: May 10, 2012

8.1

User Rating

53 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

Gideon intensifies his investigation into the Amanda Tanner case and in doing so finds a connection between Olivia Pope and the Grant when he was running for office. Olivia's background with Grant are seen through retrospect.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

Amazing as always!

10

By KendraTaylor1, Jan 29, 2013

I just watched 5 episodes in a day, so I think everyone can assume how much I love this show

This episode earned a 10 because of the raw chemistry involved. The way the camera lingers on Grant and Olivia outside of his campaign room as they share one full minute together makes you forget you're watching professional actors, and think that you've stumbled upon a private moment you weren't meant to see. Likewise, the fact that they either muted or lowered the volume in that scene spoke volumes (ironically enough). It was if you could hear them both breathing as they stared at each other, uncertain, scared, and yet way the director(s)/producer paralleled that scene with Grant and Olivia sitting on her couch, heartbroken that they're perpetually stuck between a wall dividing careers and love, is a mastery of film techinique! Yes, this episode could've possibly used more time devoted to the present, but how many times have shows either not given us backstories to characters or even used episodes Shield!) to go away from the present plotline and focus an hour on flashbacks. This show has it all for those open minded to cherish it. Say goodbye to stereotypes (you're not going to get an interracial couple put on screen just for the sake of being different, you're not going to get stereotypes of men who abuse their power for the sake of manipulating a woman for the purpose of sex, and you're not going to get stereotypes of gay characters). We need this show. We need real characters in realistic situations!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 0

Flag
Share Hide
Pretty good.

9.5

By amazing_race, Nov 26, 2012

It was pretty entertaining, what with the interesting cdevelopments and a breathtaking cliffhanger at the episode's ending! But then one can argue wthat the episode was living in the past and not doing enough in the present, which is why I rated it 9.5 instead o f 10. Th e scenes were entreataining, but I would prefer developments in the present day.

Seeing Brenda Song on the episode made my day! Just love her, especially on The Suite Life, and I didn't recognise her by her face, but by her voice. :P That was awesoem seeing her here!

Hopefully the show continues to get better, as it has been doing!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide
And then THAT happened!

9.0

By fernkelsey, May 19, 2012

WOW! This show has quickly escalated to the realm of my must-watch list. I never thought I would have said that about some little mid-season show that came out of nowhere, but WOW! The flashbacks were so relevant, and they connected everything together, all of the intertwining storylines, and drew them back to the present. And the ending! I literally gasped. He better be okay. Seriously. This episode was ridiculously tense and pulse-pounding, and I can't wait to watch the finale!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
7 1

Flag
Share Hide
getting better

7.0

By darcicomplex, May 15, 2012

I definitely thought they did a good job in this episode of presenting the the Olivia/Fitz relationship. Lots and lots of seduction in this episode, which of course is the ultimate scandal, and I like how they upped the ante with some very seductive music! From James Brown ("Baby You're Right" plays when Quinn + Gideon are in bed together eating cheese) and The Album Leaf ("The Light" plays when Fitz and Liv are in the hallway and on Liv's couch) there was some great steamy music setting the mood.

Best episode in awhile for this show, although I do hope that we see an increased role of the snoopy media in this show I think that'd be more realistic.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
4 1

Flag
Share Hide
More Flashbacks too wreck ones head!

5.5

By jabarrett35, May 11, 2012

God that was an awful episode! The only good part occured at the end. I'm really disappointed because last weeks episode was very good. These flashbacks that shows do all the time has become very tiresome.
DO YOU AGREE?
3 13

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Kerry Washington	Olivia Pope
Guillermo Díaz	Huck
Tony Goldwyn	President Fitzgerald Grant
Jeff Perry	Cyrus Beene
Columbus Short	Harrison Wright
Henry Ian Cusick	Stephen Finch

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Kate Burton	Vice President Sally Langston	Guest Star
Brenda Song	Alissa	Guest Star
Dan Bucatinsky	James	Guest Star
Joshua Malina	David Rosen	Recurring Role
Matt Letscher	Billy Chambers	Recurring Role
Liza Weil	Amanda Tanner	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Episode Photos

Kate Burton and Tony Goldwyn on Scandal ...

© 2012 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

See All Photos

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (0)
ADD TRIVIA
- ADD TRIVIA from this episode.
QUOTES (2)
ADD QUOTES
- Fitz: (on a flashback to the presidential campaign) God. Please don't. Don't be nice to me. I'm sitting here complaining to you about my wife, which is sleazy and low and not fair to you and the oldest trick in the book. Suddenly I'm looking down at myself and I'm... How did I get here? Why didn't I meet you sooner? What kind of a coward was I to marry her and not wait for you to show up?
  Olivia: Governor Grant--
  Fitz: Oh, for God's sake. We are so far beyond the "Governor Grant" crap. Just say my name.
  Olivia: That's crossing the line. It would be inappropriate.
  Fitz: Then let's be inappropriate. Say my name.
  Olivia: (after a 30 seconds silence) Fitz.
  EDIT SHARE
- Fitz: You really want me to detail for you how and where and in what positions Amanda Tanner and I had sex? Would that help make you feel better? Because I'll do it.
  Olivia: No!
  Fitz: You left me, I was unhappy, she was there. One time. I made a mistake.
  Olivia: I don't want to talk about it! You cheated on your mistress with your girlfriend. Let's just leave it at that.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (1)
ADD NOTES
- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: May 10, 2012 on Citytv
  Czech Republic: June 12, 2012 on Universal Channel
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.